REPORT: Red Wings linked to Jonathan Bernier, Robin Lehner

In the latest free agency summary piece by Craig Custance of the Athletic, he highlights a couple names the Red Wings could be interested in to fill their need in goaltending.

The Red Wings have been showing an “aggressive pursuit” to find their backup goaltender for the 2018-19 season, according to Custance. Reaching the top of their list recently has been free agent netminder Jonathan Bernier.

Bernier spent last season with the Colorado Avalanche. Playing in 37 games for the Avs, he recorded a .913 sv% and a 2.85 GAA. In other, more detailed statistics, Bernier performed adequately – having a 0.84 Goals Saved Above Average, and a .529 Quality Starts percentage. A quality start is when the goaltender ends the game with a higher save percentage, than the mean average of the league that year – or if they face less than twenty shots in that start, have a higher save percentage than .885.

He will be looking for a multi-year contract and can become the dependable goaltender the Red Wings need for the near future. With Jimmy Howard‘s contract ending after this year, Bernier can provide a nice stop-gap until one of the many goaltending prospects the Wings have, can find their game and get some experience in the NHL. Therefore, he will need to be able to start more games than a backup goalie usually does.

The .529 QS% is a good selling point on Bernier’s game and ability to become a regular starting goaltender for the Red Wings – Ben Bishop, Jacob Markstrom, Cory Schneider, Craig Anderson, Carey Price, and Matt Murray, all had the same percentage or lower than Bernier last season.

Also our dear friend Pierre Lebrun recently put some more confirmation that Jonathan Bernier will be a Detroit Red Wing.

The other goaltender that the Red Wings have an eye on, is Robin Lehner. Lehner did not receive a qualifying offer from the Buffalo Sabres, so therefore he is a UFA on July 1st. At just 27-years-old, Lehner is on the younger side for available netminders. Custance pointed out in an earlier article that Lehner has visited the Little Caesars Arena and practice facility; getting a taste of what daily life could be as a Red Wing.

He had a down year with the Sabres last year, but combining just the two previous seasons (2015-2017), Lehner had a .922 sv%, .586 QS%, and a 19.27 GSAA. Some incredible performance years for the Swedish goalie, but his previous seasons reak of inconsistency. He will be more of a gamble than Bernier, but can certainly still be worth it in the longrun. Lehner can be reborn as a starting-quality goaltender behind Howard, and he has the time to try to become the player that he looked destined to be in Ottawa.

Rebirths do happen in the goaltending world. Just look at Devan Dubnyk‘s journey to becoming a reliable presence for the Minnesota Wild. After playing behind a terrible Edmonton Oilers team, and bouncing from the Predators, Canadiens and Coyotes, Dubnyk found a home in Minnesota. At age 28, Dubnyk had one of the best seasons a goaltender could have in the 2014-15 NHL season – earning him 4th-place in Hart voting, 3rd-place in the Vezina, and a Masterton Trophy.

Whether it’s Bernier or Lehner on the Red Wings bench next season, the team will have a much better tandem than they have seen in recent years. The goaltending market is benefiting the buyers right now, and the Wings are one of the prime candidates for a backup to become a starter, as soon as next season.

Founded in 1950, Sports Excellence Corporation represents over 150 family-owned independent hockey retailers across Canada and the United States. Our highly knowledgeable hockey specialists are available to assist all your equipment needs. Find your closest Sports Excellence retailer here: Find a location near you!